Device for molding and launching vessels which are constructed of concrete, &amp;c.



IZZENTORS AT oRNEY.

I. IIA. MCNAMARA. DEVICEIFOR'MOLDINGAND LAUNCHING VESSElS-WHICH HE CONSTRUCTEQ OFICONCBETLMI.

i APPLICATION FILED f Ea. 26. 191s.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 \f fs# Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

1. & A. MCNAMARA. l DEVICE FR MOLDINGAN LUNCH|-NG VESSELS WHICHARE CONSTHUCTED 0F CONCRETE, ict

S s s APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26. i918.

vb U t t t t n t t u nu U .NU4

"cation, and to theletters and figures of refl y NITED STATES. PATENT. OFFICE.

VJAIWES MGNMARA, 0F PORTLAND, AND ALBERT MCNAMARA, OF CSWEGO, OREGCN.

DEVICE `FOR MODDING ANI)y LAUNCHING VESSELS WHICH ARE CONSTRUCTED OF..

- CONCRETE, &c. n

v i To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES MGNAMMM,

asubject ofl the King ot England, residing in the United.y States, 'who has declaredhls in tentionof becoming an American citizen,l

of. the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, State of Oregon, and ALnnn'r IMcNa-l Maim, a subject of the King of England, .glresidinv in the `United States,who has declared l-iis intention of becoming an American citizen, of the city of Oswego, county of' Clackamas, and State of Oregon, have 'invented certain newfand'usefnl improvements in devices. for molding and launchl`5 ing` vessels which are constructed of concrete for any substance of a similar nature which requires 4af form for construction; -and Vwe do hereby declare that the following is. a full, clear, and exact description of same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming partjof'the speciti erence marked thereon.

This in vent-ion relates more particularly to apdevice for molding and launching concrete vessels. l

The objecbof this invention is to form a mold-which can beused repeatedly without dismantling sameand when vessel's comu pleted Vto'furnish arrapid, easy and safe means for launching the vessel.-

Referring to the, accompanying drawings,`

Figure 1 is aplan'of assembled mold. Fig. 2 is an elevation along parting line of mold. Fig. 3 is enlarged transverse section through center of mold. Fig. t is enlarged detail of clamping and alining device. Fig. 5 is diagram showing method of operating clamping screw simultaneously. Fig. 6 is asec- 40 tional elevation through engine room, showing my method of submerging and en'ierging pontoons.

Y Like letters and iguresot reference in the several figures indicate'the saine or similar l5 parts. y

A1v bein a submersible pontoon of con.-A 4 crete, woo( or metal, the interior of which,

`A2, forms a. mold for lthe exterior of the vessel. AS indicatesthe recess in the mold for.

0 the vessels stern keel. Pontoon A1 is split along liuc A1 which parting lino extends from the stem to the stern of the vessel and directly along its center line. The pontoon having been cut in halves by the part-ing line 5 A* is subdivided by the partitions A, which i Specification of Letters Patent.

stern post portions' o B1 is used to recelve a `s1milar shape of rib,

Patented sept. 17, 191s.

' Application inea Febrdry 26, 191e'.A senin Np. 219,196.

act as 'braces and bulkheads. A deck, A, is formed above the bulkheads for storeroomsj and workshops, AT are .water tighteom part-ments.A A8. indicate the walls" of the vessel ,under construction, showing the in r60` side boxing removed. f l

In the face .of the pontoon which is sepa.- rated from, theother half, that is along the line A, isA a 'channel or groove,'B1,."extend ing the full 'length ofthe vessel, along its G5 keel and -then verticall' along the bow and the molded vessel.

B2, which is mounted on 'the opposite Jontoon, and alsoextends the full length 'o the 70 vessel, that is from pointB3 to B1, which are theterminals of theI alining channels, B1 and the'rib B2. The alining of the' pontoon "halves being determined, the securing of the parts in their relative positions is accomplished by screws B5, whichclamp the rib portion,B'-, intol the .channel B1.` B, which vis a tappeclplilte, serves as a nut for while-'Bf/isashoulder collar on B5 to hold same in place. B8 is-a sprocket Wheel 80V for operating the screw B5 and is drivenin common with similar screws, B, by chain B9, which is supported on its idle'portions by idler sprockets, B11?. Hand wheels, B11, are used to impartthe required motion to the'clamping screws.' A deck, B12, is placed "over workshop and engine room space,- B13.-

Shoulder BT and sprocket B11 ride against the plate B11., .which carries B5, and B15 are holes lfor B5.y i i 90 C1 -is a motorl for operating .emergin pump C3 through beltC2. Water is pumpe from the bulkheads through pipeJ` C1, and expelled `by pump through pipeC. The pump action exerted on the Water in the individual .bulkheads may be controlled by valves C, C1 and C8 being check valves on pump C3. l

Suhmerging ofpontoons is accomplished by C9, which is a'. seacock for admitting wa- 100 ter to the. various bulkheads. The Water en'ierging from mouth C10 and the inlet,.be ing controlled by valve G11, which is oper ated by rod C12 and 'Wheels G13, placed for convenience above deck A, D1 is an airl passage, 'the purpose of which is to overcome the ell'e'ct of changing the amount of water in eachl bulkhead.

The operation of our devi .e is as follows:

The two sections of-the pi itoon are brought 11,19V

together so rib B2 will enter channel 131 and permit operation of clamping device. If needed the arting line is ca-lked and water let into bul heads. The inner part of the mold can be formed as is now customary with built up walls, and the process ofputting in concrete can be started. As the work progresses and weight is added to the pontoons, water is taken from the bulkheads. The outside of the mold at the upper edge can be made to conform with the shape of the gunwale of the completed vessel, or it can be made stra'i ht as indicated, so they will furnish walls 01 shop and engine decks. W lien vessel is completed the pontoons are separated by unscrewing clamps so screws are entirely withdrawn from tapped plates and pontoons are gradually withdrawn, leav-v ing new hull launched.

t mustbe apparent that oui` system will greatly reduce the cost of 'construction of molds, as they can be used repeatedly, while with the p'resent system the entire supervstructure."and molds must be removed and much, o f the lumber wasted. The second and 'even'greater advantage is 'that of lafulic'l'iing,f which is automatic. The third advantage: is transportation of supplies, which c a-n be taken" aboard the pontoons from nearbyvessels.

While' We have' thusdescribed and illustrated oninvention, itis not our intention that it shall be limited to this particulai1 sectional pontoon means, section alining means, a section clamping and releasing means and pontoon submerging means.

3. In a launching form-for concrete floating bodies, consisting of a floating, molding form lne-ans, which 1s divided into sections for the purpose of freeing the product and 'each of the sections float-mg independently and capable of being reunited to receive the next materials to be molded.

4, In a device for molding and launching .concrete ships, consisting of a submersible split mold means having a means for automatically alining mold,1while being united and a clamping and releasing means for holding and releasing sections of mold means. Y

JAMES MCNAMARA.- ALBERT MGNAMARA. 

